The i-to-i Chalkboard online travel community - Meet. Share. Travel with Purpose

Hi Abi and Nat :) Abi, I used to be a southern fairy - I went to uni in Brighton - but I'm a midlands girl again now, ah the joys of returning to the Nest...

I've just started the 60hrs online bit, does the written assignments count as the longer answer section at the end of each module that have to be marked before you carry on? (as opposed to the nice, non scary multiple choice questions) I HOPE SO. I've just done my first one of those *woop!*

Hi All

Wouldn't it be great if we could get together before August, so we at least know each other a teensy bit before we fly?!  I'm based in Milton Keynes, so not far away from the Midlands.  Originally from Lincolnshire but I escaped - and one half of my family live in Brighton, so I spend a fair bit of time there.  Hey Clare did you ever frequent the Basket Makers Arms in North Laines?  My sister used to be the landlady there until Sep 08.

As to the written assignment, yep Clare I'm referring to the longer one at the end of the module that has to be marked before you carry on.  The first one I found was on Module 2 of the 60hr course did I miss one on Module 1?  And I just got my feedback this afternoon - I've passed, yipee!

Kim, don't panic - its not that scary, honest.  Its like the multiple choice except when you're asked a question you have to write about 50-100 words freestyle to answer it rather than clicking on a ready made answer.  And if you fluff it up, you do get two more opportunties to resubmit.  They only seem to appear on the module list once you've started to work on it.

Right, must get back to it.  Chat again soon!

Hello all! Just got my acceptance letter toay so its no turning back for me now.

I'm originally from the midlands too in Leicestershire but went to uni in Bournemouth and now in London, if anyone is around london at any point then it would be good to meet up for a drink and panic about the course together!

Jane - thanks for the clarification re. written assignments. I actually figured that out on my own lol. I just got the results back from my first one and I passed! So I've completed 3 modules so far. MAN that grammar one was BRUTAL! My grammar rules knowledge was at like ZERO - I'm embarassed. Oh well it's done. And it's fairly straightforward, just need to review it a lot and it will become second nature.

I keep wondering if I'm going to be a good teacher - anyone else worrying about this? I'm concerned I will be absolute crap at it...

Considering I'm the only Canadian in the group, I think it's safe to say I won't be able to get together with anyone before going lol. I'll most likely be flying the opposite way. I would LOVE to do that though - fly into London and meet up with some of you or something. I LOVE London and it would be great to have travel buddies for at least part of the trip. My brother does live in London so I could always fly that direction and stay with him for a couple days, meet up then fly to Beijing with some of you all though....could be more expensive and/or a logistical nightmare but it's a possibility..hmmmmm something to think about!

Anyway, must get back to watching the Biathalon - GO TEAM CANADA!!

Hey everyone! Haven't signed up yet (waiting for pay day) but looks like this is what I'll be doing some August (fingers crossed!) - No teaching experiance but for travelling I spent 2008 & 2009 backpacking in Australia and NZ.

At the moment based in Bristol but no idea how long this contract will last so might be back in Shrewsbury come next month. Depending on what & when will be happy to come to a meet up ;)

I'll be planning a bit of a travel before hand... at the moment the loose plan is July in East Europe, August get to Moscow and do the Trans-Siberian train to Beijing via Mongolia and spend the week in Benijing before the start of the course and the big meet up!

Hi all, I've just signed up to the China internship, wondering where people's preferences are, North, South? I'm thinking South sounds good, not sure though!

Hey Hey, I penciled in my booking today as-well :) not too sure on location myself as I dont know that much about China but at the moment I'm thinking middle (Shanghai).

Hey everyone, im Daniela, signed on 2 weeks ago and still waiting to hear if i have the job or not, 

im based in Sheffield, anyone else nearby?

cud meet up, wud be great to know someone before i go

Hey Daniela,

You should get in touch with Melek, as I think she's based in Sheffield atm: http://www.tefl-chalkboard.com/melek

If anyone else is doing their 2 day TEFL workshop in Milton Keynes on 17/18 April, I'll see you there.  Also, as I live in MK if anyone needs a place to stay overnight that weekend, then I have a couple of airbeds and sleeping bags - you're welcome to crash at my place!

Hi all, 

I have booked my internship and I am in the process of completing my application form, so fingers crossed all goes well. I am currently based in Birmingham and have never been to China before although it is a place I have dreamed of going to for years! Would love to get to know people who are also going! x

Hey EVeryone! I will be joining in on the fun in August as well... I am Melissa from Florida! Is anyone from the US? Also, is anyone interested in doing some traveling after the internship? I put down Shanghai as my first choice :)

Hello all! It brings a much pleasant smile to my face to know I am not on my own on this great adventure I have today thown myself hook line and sinker for  :) But still have the application mombo jombo to complete woooo :/  I to as some of you have NO teaching experience thus to say "crapping" myself at the thought of facing all those lovely children that will expect some sence of how a teacher should know what comes next...hmm. Oh well the joys to come ay! Very excited at the thought of having this heavy cloud of "culture shock" hanging over me for the first few weeks.....or longer!?? I live in Manchester and have no idea when this weekend class course on 17th - 18th April will be... any ideas guys?? I too would love to connect with people who are going :)

Meldb0124 - I will be hoping to do further travelling after the internship...where are your plans?

Jade8444 - hope the application is going well? I have still all the producing of pics, refs, etc to route for!

Em :)

Hi, I signed on for the internship in August in December and got accepted early February. I put down Shanghai as my first choice so hopefully I get it as I don't want to end up in the middle of nowhere on my own!!! I currently live in North Wales and can't wait to get away for a while. I'm thinking about travelling after but it depends on how much money I have so I'll just have to wait and see.

Hey Em & Niha! Welcome to our growing group! :D I'm loving this getting to know each other a bit before we get thrown into everything and looks like the current group out there are having fun even with the problems.

Em I'm booked into Birmingham for 15th May so won't be around for yours (might still be in Bristol during April so can't change).

Niha, whereabouts in N.Wales are you?

Hey,

just signed up this week, not got a placement yet so trying not to get too excited just in case. Anyway, i'm booked onto the 10th April weekend course in Sheffield, is anyone else going to that? It would be great to meet someone who's going to :-)

Hey Amy! Welcome to chalkboard, hope to see you around so we have someone else to converse with :D I've just managed to get everything together for my application pack and will be sending it back tomorrow methinks.

I live in Prestatyn at the moment but I have a job interview next week so if offered that I may be moving down towards Bristol for a couple of months. If that happens it'll be annoying to change my weekend course as it's next month in Manchester and it's the only bit of the course I have to complete which I really wanted to get over with.

HI amy, and melek, sorry for not leaving a message earlier, my account wouldnt open so have created another one.

Yeah im based in sheffield. We should all meet up. Could go for some drinks and a bit of food or something and talk about how neervous we are haha

i havent been accepted yet, but fingers crossed

really would be over the moon if i got to go, such an amazing opportunity,

ive alredy done my weekend Tefl last year, so just completing my online course, module 6 at the moment

so on track with that

hows it going with you guys?and any body else for that matter?

daniela xx

Hello everyone! I just signed up and sent in all my docs today. I'm looking forward to meeting and working with all of you soon.

Melissa from Florida- I'm from Florida too. Tampa actually, but I'm in Houston right now for work. It's good to see someone from a familiar place.

Is anyone planning on teaching after the internship? I'd like to spend a year somewhere, perhaps China.

Mike

Haha NihaC - In the next couple of weeks you might be moving from N.Wales to Bristol and I'm doing the exact opposite!

Hi Mike, welcome to the group! I just have to say, EXCELLENT surname (I'm a Wilson). Personally, I'm going to see how I go on the teaching front - definitely up for travelling afterwards tho :)

Clare,

I'm looking forward to traveling afterwards as well. I figured since I was on the other side of the world I might as well check it out:) I'd love to help arrange some kind of group travel which would be both cheaper and more fun. The only problem is choosing a place. I want to go everywhere!

Does the 21 voices (on top of thread) mean there are a confirmed 21 people going in August?

Quite a few of us aren't confirmed yet (applications sent but still waiting) plus i guess there are people who haven't signed up for August who have posted :)

Hey guys :) My initial plan was to teach in South Korea for one year, but saw the China internship as a good baby step, so I will probably head over to South Korea once I have completed the 4.5months, as Mike says once you're that far out, may as well take advantage... I must admit though, lately I have been looking at Thailand, Cambodia...etc and I want to go EVERYWHERE!!!!

Not really sure whether to plan things too much before I go out, as anything can happen really can't it!

:) Melek xx